Refugees by country of asylum in Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China: Refugees by country of asylum was 260 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Hong Kong, China, 1951–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Hong Kong, China stood at 260 people.
That represents a change of down 13.6% on the previous year and up 62.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Hong Kong, China peaked at 1.25 million people in 1965 and was at its lowest, 50 people, in 1972.
Hong Kong, China ranks 138th of 183 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Hong Kong, China, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 30,000 people | — |
| 1954 | 22,000 people | -26.7% |
| 1964 | 1.12 million people | +4990.9% |
| 1965 | 1.25 million people | +11.7% |
| 1966 | 1.25 million people | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 1,000 people | -99.9% |
| 1971 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 50 people | -95.0% |
| 1978 | 63,410 people | +126720.0% |
| 1979 | 55,700 people | -12.2% |
| 1980 | 24,070 people | -56.8% |
| 1981 | 13,540 people | -43.7% |
| 1982 | 12,620 people | -6.8% |
| 1983 | 12,770 people | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 11,960 people | -6.3% |
| 1985 | 9,400 people | -21.4% |
| 1986 | 8,000 people | -14.9% |
| 1987 | 9,530 people | +19.1% |
| 1988 | 15,359 people | +61.2% |
| 1989 | 12,022 people | -21.7% |
| 1990 | 8,161 people | -32.1% |
| 1991 | 4,414 people | -45.9% |
| 1992 | 2,605 people | -41.0% |
| 1993 | 1,846 people | -29.1% |
| 1994 | 1,698 people | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 1,479 people | -12.9% |
| 1996 | 1,350 people | -8.7% |
| 1997 | 1,224 people | -9.3% |
| 1998 | 1,037 people | -15.3% |
| 1999 | 973 people | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 980 people | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 1,392 people | +42.0% |
| 2002 | 1,490 people | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 1,899 people | +27.4% |
| 2004 | 1,865 people | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 1,925 people | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 1,932 people | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 89 people | -95.4% |
| 2008 | 90 people | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 78 people | -13.3% |
| 2010 | 149 people | +91.0% |
| 2011 | 146 people | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 105 people | -28.1% |
| 2013 | 113 people | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 160 people | +41.6% |
| 2015 | 109 people | -31.9% |
| 2016 | 91 people | -16.5% |
| 2017 | 85 people | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 128 people | +50.6% |
| 2019 | 128 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 245 people | +91.4% |
| 2021 | 271 people | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 285 people | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 301 people | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 260 people | -13.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26,000 people | 22,000 people | 30,000 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 1.21 million people | 1.12 million people | 1.25 million people | 3 |
| 1970s | 24,232 people | 50 people | 63,410 people | 5 |
| 1980s | 12,927 people | 8,000 people | 24,070 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,479 people | 973 people | 8,161 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,174 people | 78 people | 1,932 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 121.4 people | 85 people | 160 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 272.4 people | 245 people | 301 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong, China
More population data for Hong Kong, China
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -2.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2044)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -2.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3992 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -3.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -2.5% (2100)
- Population density 1,981 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 30,373 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -2.5% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.2539 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Hong Kong, China?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Hong Kong, China was 260 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.25 million people in 1965.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 people in 1972.
- How does Hong Kong, China rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Hong Kong, China ranks 138th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Hong Kong, China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong, China data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.